The RAF

RAF Atwick

Situated on the Yorkshire Coast just to the north of Atwick village, this is another WW1 site with very little history. Its location was 3 miles from Hornsea railway station and it was listed as a 2nd class landing ground. It covered an area of 50 acres in open surroundings, half a mile from the sea. The site was another used by 76 squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

There is no record of any regular use at Atwick until May 1918 when it was occupied by 504flight of 251 squadron, Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)

which operated with DH 6s on anti u boat patrols. The landing ground closed immediately after the war and there is no trace of it today.

On 8th July 1918 this aircraft suffered an engine failure and was force-landed 3.5 miles South West of Robin Hoods Bay, the aircraft was undamaged and the pilot uninjured. Given the known distance this landing probably occurred on moorland and this would seem remarkable that no damage was sustained. I would suggest that either some slight damage was sustained or the distance from Robin Hoods Bay is not correct.Pilot – Name unknown.DH6 B3091 was built by Airco for the RFC and served with them (there are no details of its service), it was transferred to the RAF on 1st April 1918 and transferred to M.A.D. Killingholme for 256 Squadron on 25th May 1918. It moved to SD Flt 251 Squadron at Atwick on 30th June 1918. Following the incident detailed above no further record of it exists, it must be presumed it saw no further service after the incident either being repaired and flown out or dismantled and removed by road, the latter being most probable